San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic has undergone many changes in his career. Over time, he went from a promising young blueliner to a top-pair defenseman to one of the NHL’s most overpriced players. In that same time frame, the Sharks themselves took a similar journey, starting as an upstart playoff team before becoming true contenders, then falling to the bottom of the league in part due to bad contracts.
Over the last two seasons, Vlasic has battled injuries but worked through them, which helped him earn the Sharks’ 2025 nomination for the Masterton Trophy. He likely won’t be a part of the Sharks’ long-term future as a 38-year-old entering the final year of his contract, but he can still find value for himself while providing benefits to the team he’s been a part of for nearly 20 years.
Vlasic’s Masterton Nomination Is Well-Deserved
Vlasic missed training camp and a large portion of this season due to injuries. He just couldn’t get on the ice, a more extreme version of last season, when injuries and the prioritization of other defensemen limited him to 57 appearances. To his credit, he battled to return to competition and has played in 24 games this season, which included his 1,300th career game — all of them as a member of the Sharks.
Even in his limited games, Vlasic’s time on the ice this season has been notable for several reasons. In addition to surpassing the games-played milestone, he became the NHL’s all-time leader in blocked shots. More significantly for San Jose, he showed that despite his age and contract, he is still a capable blueliner when healthy. He hasn’t been a shutdown defenseman this season, but he remains a defensive-minded player who is willing to put his body on the line and doesn’t usually make mistakes. For a team relying so heavily on young players, having a steady presence on defense this season has been huge in the games he’s played.
The NHL defines a Masterton winner as a player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.” When factoring in the injuries Vlasic has overcome and the criticism he’s received due to his cap hit, his efforts this season are absolutely worthy of consideration for the award.
Vlasic’s Place on Sharks Can Benefit Himself and Team
Next season, Vlasic will likely be San Jose’s sixth or seventh defenseman. His $7 million cap hit would obviously be a significant overpay for most teams, but it’s not a problem for the Sharks, who aren’t in a salary cap crunch and might even need to take some steps to reach the cap floor. They can afford to have someone like him on their roster, and his presence would benefit both himself and the team.
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From the Sharks’ perspective, Vlasic can still offer a lot both on and off the ice. His skills in blocking shots and staying composed will continue to have a place on a team that needs a lot of improvements defensively. They will be bringing in a lot of young defensemen to make up the core of their blue line, and Vlasic can set an example for those players. He can be a leader by example through his play and a mentor in the locker room. In recent seasons, the Sharks have brought in several veterans to help lead the way. Vlasic might not be a new acquisition, but he fits into that same category.
Vlasic has a chance to continue the steps that earned him the Masterton nomination and end his career on a positive note. His recent seasons have been largely about injuries, healthy scratches and not playing at a level that justifies his contract. But if he offers the same services next season that he did this season, his legacy can change. Next season could easily be the last of his career. He could leave the Sharks by creating a lasting memory of a player who wasn’t on the team when the rebuild came to fruition, but who helped set that portion of San Jose’s history in motion with his leadership.
Vlasic is a Masterton candidate because he chose to fight through recent tough times to return to hockey and make an impact on a struggling team. He can ensure his career concludes positively by doing more of the same.
